The Cat Oh Nine Tails is a flogging toy that features nine thin leather braided tails. As a flogging toy, a Cat Oh Nine Tails will deliver stingier and more painful sensations than a leather strap style flogger. This particular Cat Oh Nine Tails, while capable of delivering a sharp bite, is actually quite gentle. Because of this, I actually think it is best suited for a beginner who thinks they want a little bit of bite in their flogging sensations.

This toy is made by Ruff Doggie styles, so it visually similar to other pink floggers like the Fluffy Flogger or the Fufil-a-fantasy Flogger. Like other Ruff Doggie Style flogging products, the handle is a wooden dowel with a woven leather covering; with additional leather bands tacked around each end of the handle as a way to anchor down the falls on one end and the loop/handle on the other. While this is all standard for Ruff Doggie floggers, on this particular piece the finishing highlights how cheaply it was made. I don't have very much confidence that it would put up with much abuse, particularly in regards to how the falls are attached to the handle. While I could be wrong about this (I don't feel this way about other Ruff Doggie floggers I have), the Cat Oh Nine Tails just does not seem to be well made.

The leather used in this toy is stuff and almost plastic, but does have a faint bit of that lovely 'leather' smell. The tails are thin braids from strands of pink and black leather, and they are very light, and have a very 'hard' surface. They don't feel soft or leathery when trailed over the skin. At the end of each of the braids is a small fan of softer black leather that is securely attached to the braids.

This flogger is light, and its tails are long. As such, it flies fast in use, allowing it to strike sharply and quickly, delivering a nice sting with very little thud. The majority of the sting feels like it comes from the soft black fans at the end of the falls, which strike as a coordinated bungle of sting when the flogger is whipping around quickly. If, however, the flogger is use loosely, the tails tend to spray around erratically, barely striking with an perceptible sensation. If being thrown loosely, however, extra care must be taken to avoid striking anywhere near the face - the tails are long and move fast and unpredictably enough to harm an eye.

The weaving on the handle has unraveled on my Cat Oh Nine Tails somewhat, and to prevent that I would recommend gluing down and loose tabs of leather immediately (and not picking at them as well...). I wouldn't be too worried about storing this bundled up - I don't see the tails kinking or anything - and its actually easiest to keep the tails from tangling by wrapping them neatly around the handle to make a nice little bundle. If it happens to get soiled, the toy can be cleaned with leather cleaner. If it is by chance soiled with blood or bodily fluids, remember that leather is porous and cannot be sanitized. If you have any doubts about the toy's cleanliness, it can be left to rest for six months or so - nothing will survive on it that long as long as it is stored in a dry place. If it happens to get wet, dry it very well before storage, taking special care to make sure the braided tails are dry to the core of the braid.

I think the most telling thing about this toy was the reaction of my family upon opening the box it came to me in. As I pulled it from its plastic sleeve, my husband called me on the fact that my face betrayed my reviewers prerogative of "trying before judging". He says I sneered, I'm not sure I was so harsh. Either way, it immediately struck me as being cheap and poor quality. Soon after, my husband looked it over and declared it to be a "glorified cat toy", before using it as exactly that way with our two cats, who were waiting patiently at his feet. And my cats? They were pretty sure from the get go that it was a cat toy, and have made a variety of attempts to conquer and kill it. And after giving it the old college try in the bedroom, I admit I have to agree - the Cat Oh Nine Tails' place in my house is as a cat toy.

Follow-up commentaryI still don't like it20 months after original review

With enough use, the leather started un-weaving on the handle of this toy - a sure sign that it was not quality craftsmanship. That issue aside, my cats always found it very exciting, making it impossible to use if they were in the room.

This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer. This review is in compliance with the
FTC guidelines.

I want it *so* bad. Maybe because I'm attempting to collect all of the Ruff Doggie Styles products. I'm a little sad to hear it isn't as well made as the others though.

03/11/2010

Sammi

This looks cool - too bad it's so gentle and not so well made.
Good review!

03/11/2010

NuMe

Very nice review!

03/12/2010

The Curious Couple

Awesome review, thank you!

11/20/2011

MidnightB

I love the Ruff Doggie products, but I have to agree with you on this one, as pretty as it looks from the image.
I love it being used as a cat toy brilliant, will be offering one to mine too, they will thank you!